Enhanced efficiency turbine

ABSTRACT

Hydrocarbon fuel is sent to a reformer, which produces carbon and hydrogen. The hydrogen is sent to a fuel cell which uses it to generate electricity, and the electricity is used to actuate an electric motor that is coupled to an output shaft of a turbine to impart torque to the shaft. Additionally, hydrocarbon fuel can be provided to the turbine intake directly and/or carbon from the reformer can be mixed with steam from the fuel cell and sent to the turbine intake, in either case to impinge on the turbine blades and impart further torque to the output shaft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to using fuel cells to actuateturbines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The importance of energy conservation goes without saying. Not only mustfossil fuels be conserved for future use, but limiting the amount offossil fuels that must be burned appears to be highly beneficial for theenvironment. Hence, the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a system includes a reformer receiving hydrocarbon fuel andoutputting a stream of hydrogen and a stream of carbon separate from thestream of hydrogen. A fuel cell receives hydrogen output by the reformerbut the fuel cell does not receive the stream of carbon. The fuel cellprovides a first energy output and an output of water vapor which ismixed with carbon output by the reformer to provide a mixture. Themixture is directed against blades of a turbine to impart torque to anoutput shaft of the turbine while the first energy output of the fuelcell is also used to impart torque to the output shaft of the turbine.

In example embodiments the mixture further includes a surfactant. Ifdesired, the output shaft of the turbine can be coupled to a generatorto cause the generator to output electricity when the output shaft isrotated, or the turbine can be used to propel a vehicle to move.

The first energy output of the fuel cell may be connected to an electricmotor and the electric motor coupled to a rotor coupling in the turbine,with the first energy output actuating the electric motor. In someembodiments the hydrocarbon fuel is provided to an intake of the turbinein addition to being provided to the reformer. Also, if desired the fuelcell can be electrically connected to a turbine ignition component toprovide ignition energy thereto.

In another aspect, a system includes a turbine including an output shaftand a fuel cell providing output that is coupled to the turbine so as toimpart torque to the output shaft.

In another aspect, a method includes reforming hydrocarbon fuel intohydrogen and carbon, using the hydrogen to produce electricity, andusing the electricity to impart torque to an output shaft of a turbine.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a turbine-powered generator inaccordance with present principles;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a turbine-powered aircraftpropulsion system in accordance with present principles;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a turbine-powered propulsionsystem for, e.g., land vehicles, helicopters, and watercraft inaccordance with present principles; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of the present actuation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 show various illustrative non-limiting applications of presentprinciples. An actuation system 10, described further below, impartstorque to a rotor of a turbine 12 to rotate an output shaft 14 of theturbine. The turbine 12 may include a compressor section and a turbinesection in accordance with turbine principles and may also have one ormore rotors or shafts which typically are coupled to each other andwhich may be concentric to each other.

In FIG. 1, an output shaft 14 of the turbine is coupled to the rotor ofan electrical generator 16 to rotate the generator rotor within anelectric field and thus cause the generator 16 to output electricity. InFIG. 2, the output shaft 14 is coupled to the rotor of an aircraft fan18, to rotate the fan and thus cause it to generate thrust forpropelling a turbofan jet plane. In FIG. 3, the output shaft 14 iscoupled to the rotor of a propulsion component 20 such as the rotor of ahelicopter, the shaft of a watercraft on which a propeller is mounted,or a drive shaft of a land vehicle such as a military tank to rotate therotor/shaft/drive shaft as the case may be to propel the platformthrough the air or water or over land, depending on the nature of theconveyance. The propulsion component 20 may include a drive train thatcan include a combination of components known in the art, e.g.,crankshafts, transmissions, axles, and so on.

FIG. 4 shows the details of an example embodiment of the actuationsystem 10. A fuel tank 22 which contains hydrocarbon-based fuel such asbut not limited to jet fuel can provide fuel to the intake 24 of theturbine 12. The fuel typically is injected through injectors in theturbine, where it mixes with air compressed by the compressor section ofthe turbine and ignited in a so-called “flame holder” or “can”. “Intake”refers generally to these portions of the turbine that are preliminaryto the turbine blades. The high pressure mixture is then directed toimpinge on turbine blades 25 which are coupled to the output shaft 14.In this way torque is imparted to the output shaft 14 to cause it torotate about its axis.

In addition to or in lieu of actuating the turbine 12 with fuel directlyfrom the fuel tank 22, the actuation system 10 may include a reformer 26which receives fuel from the fuel tank 22. The reformer 26 produceshydrogen from the fuel, and the hydrogen is sent to a fuel cell 28, insome cases through a hydrogen tank 29 first as shown. If desired,multiple reformers and/or fuel cells may be used in parallel with eachother.

The fuel cell 28 uses the hydrogen to generate electricity, typicallywith a relatively high efficiency, by mixing the hydrogen with oxygenfrom, e.g., the ambient atmosphere. Without limitation, the fuel cell 28may be a polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a solid oxide fuelcell (SOFC), an alkaline fuel cell (AFC), a molten-carbonate fuel cell(MCFC), a phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC), or a direct-methanol fuelcell (DMFC).

In turn, electricity from the fuel cell 28 is sent to an electric motor30 to cause an output shaft of the motor 30 to turn. The motor shaft ismechanically coupled through a rotor coupling 32 to a rotor of theturbine 12. Typically, the turbine rotor to which the motor 30 iscoupled is not the same segment of rotor bearing the blades 25, althoughin some implementations this can be the case. Instead, the turbine rotorto which the motor 30 may be coupled may be a segment of the blade rotorthat does not bear blades or a rotor separate from the blade rotor andconcentric therewith or otherwise coupled thereto. In any case, themotor 30, when energized by the fuel cell 28, imparts torque (throughappropriate couplings if desired) through a turbine rotor to the outputshaft 14 of the turbine 12, which in some cases may be the same shaft asthat establishing the turbine rotor.

In addition, to realize further efficiencies, water in the form of steamproduced by the fuel cell 28 may be mixed with carbon from the reformer26 in a mixer 34, which may be a tank or simple pipe or other void inwhich the water and carbon can mix, with the mixture then being directed(through, e.g., appropriate piping or ducting) to the turbine intake 24.If desired, surfactant from a surfactant tank 36 may also be added tothe steam/carbon mixture. In any case, it may now be appreciated thatthe steam/carbon mixture may supplement fuel injection directly from thefuel tank 22 to the turbine intake 24, or replace altogether fuelinjection directly from the fuel tank 22 to the turbine intake 24.

Still further, as indicated by the electrical line 38 in FIG. 4,electricity produced by the fuel cell 28 may be used not only to actuatethe electric motor 30 but also to provide ignition current for theappropriate components in the turbine intake 24. In cases where thereformer 26 generates carbon dioxide and steam, these fluids may also bedirected to the intake 24 directly from the reformer 26 or through themixer 34.

In some embodiments, water can be returned from the fuel cell 28 ifdesired to the reformer 26 through a water line 40. Also if desired,heat from the turbine 12 may be collected and routed back to thereformer 26 through ducting/piping, to heat the reformer.

While the particular ENHANCED EFFICIENCY TURBINE is herein shown anddescribed in detail, the scope of the present application is limitedonly by the appended claims.

1. A system comprising: at least one reformer assembly receivinghydrocarbon fuel and outputting hydrogen from a first output and productdepleted of hydrogen from a second output separate from the first outputoutputting hydrogen; at least one fuel cell receiving hydrogen from thefirst output of the reformer but not being connected to the secondoutput of the reformer, the fuel cell providing a first energy outputand an output of water vapor; the water vapor being mixed with productfrom the second output of the reformer to provide a mixture; the mixturebeing mixed with fuel and directed to a turbine and combusting to imparttorque to the turbine; the first energy output of the fuel cell alsobeing used to impart torque to the output shaft of the turbine.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the mixture further includes a surfactant. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the output shaft of the turbine iscoupled to a generator to cause the generator to output electricity whenthe output shaft is rotated.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein theturbine propels a vehicle to move.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thefirst energy output of the fuel cell is connected to an electric motorand the electric motor is coupled to a rotor coupling of the turbine,the first energy output actuating the electric motor.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is provided to an intake of theturbine in addition to being provided to the reformer.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the fuel cell is electrically connected to a turbineignition component to provide ignition energy thereto.
 8. A systemcomprising: at least one turbine including an output shaft; at least onefuel cell providing output that is coupled to the turbine so as toimpart torque to the output shaft; at least one reformer receivinghydrocarbon fuel and outputting from a first output a stream of hydrogenand from a second output a stream of product depleted of hydrogenseparate from the stream of hydrogen; the fuel cell receiving hydrogenoutput by the first output of the reformer but not product output by thesecond output of the reformer, wherein the fuel cell produces watervapor, the water vapor being mixed with product depleted of hydrogenoutput by the reformer to provide a mixture, the mixture being mixedwith fuel and directed to a turbine to impart torque to the turbine. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell is electrically connectedto an electric motor to actuate the electric motor.
 10. The system ofclaim 8, wherein fluid or steam produced by the fuel cell is directed toan intake of the turbine.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the systemprovides hydrocarbon fuel to an intake of the turbine in addition toproviding the hydrocarbon fuel to a reformer supplying hydrogen to thefuel cell.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the fuel cell iselectrically connected to a turbine ignition component to provideignition energy thereto.